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The most comprehensive Raspberry Pi simulator for embedded systems development, IoT prototyping, and educational purposes. Build, test, and debug your Raspberry Pi projects without physical hardware using our advanced physics-based simulation engine.

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πŸ”§ RPi Simulator - Advanced Raspberry Pi Development Environment

Python License: MIT PyQt6 FastAPI GitHub Stars Author

The most comprehensive Raspberry Pi simulator for embedded systems development, IoT prototyping, and educational purposes. Build, test, and debug your Raspberry Pi projects without physical hardware using our advanced physics-based simulation engine.

πŸš€ Why RPi Simulator?

  • πŸ’° Cost-Effective: Develop without buying expensive hardware components
  • ⚑ Rapid Prototyping: Test ideas instantly with virtual breadboards and components
  • πŸ”¬ Advanced Testing: Deterministic simulation with record/replay capabilities
  • πŸŽ“ Educational: Perfect for learning embedded systems and IoT development
  • 🏭 Production-Ready: CI/CD integration for automated testing pipelines
  • 🌐 Cross-Platform: Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux

✨ Key Features

πŸ–₯️ Complete Raspberry Pi Hardware Simulation

  • GPIO Control: All 40 pins with accurate electrical characteristics
  • Communication Protocols: I2C, SPI, UART, 1-Wire with protocol analysis
  • PWM & Timing: Precise timing simulation for servo control and PWM signals
  • Pin Configuration: Dynamic pin mode switching (input/output/PWM/I2C/SPI)

πŸ”Œ Extensive Device Library (50+ Components)

  • Sensors: DHT22, BME280, MPU6050, ultrasonic, light sensors, accelerometers
  • Displays: LCD, OLED, 7-segment, LED matrices, TFT displays
  • Actuators: Servo motors, stepper motors, DC motors, relays, buzzers
  • Communication: WiFi modules, Bluetooth, LoRa, cellular modems
  • Power Management: Battery simulation, voltage regulators, power monitoring

🎨 Visual Development Environment

  • Interactive Breadboard: Drag-and-drop component placement with realistic wiring
  • Real-time Monitoring: Live voltage/current measurements and signal visualization
  • Logic Analyzer: Built-in oscilloscope and protocol decoder tools
  • 3D Physics Engine: Realistic environmental simulation for sensor testing

πŸ’» Multi-Language Code Execution

  • Python: Full RPi.GPIO and CircuitPython compatibility
  • C/C++: WiringPi and BCM library support
  • Node.js: Johnny-Five and Pi-GPIO integration
  • Sandboxed Execution: Safe code execution with resource limits

πŸš€ Quick Start Guide

Installation

# Install via pip (recommended)
pip install rpi-simulator

# Or install from source
git clone https://github.com/Sherin-SEF-AI/RPi-Simulator.git
cd RPi-Simulator
pip install -e .

Create Your First Project

# Initialize a new IoT project
pistudio init weather-station --template iot-sensors

# Add environmental sensors
pistudio add bme280 --i2c-address 0x76 --name "temp_sensor"
pistudio add dht22 --gpio 4 --name "humidity_sensor"

# Connect an OLED display
pistudio add ssd1306 --i2c-address 0x3C --name "display"

# Wire components visually or via CLI
pistudio connect GPIO18 LED1:anode
pistudio connect GPIO4 DHT22:data

# Run your simulation
pistudio run --gui

Example: Blinking LED

# main.py - Classic Raspberry Pi LED blink
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time

LED_PIN = 18
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
GPIO.setup(LED_PIN, GPIO.OUT)

try:
    while True:
        GPIO.output(LED_PIN, GPIO.HIGH)
        time.sleep(1)
        GPIO.output(LED_PIN, GPIO.LOW)
        time.sleep(1)
except KeyboardInterrupt:
    GPIO.cleanup()

Headless Mode for CI/CD

# Run automated tests
pistudio test --headless --report junit.xml

# API server for remote development
pistudio serve --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000

πŸ—οΈ Architecture & Technology Stack

Core Simulation Engine

  • Event-Driven Architecture: Deterministic timing with microsecond precision
  • Physics Engine: 3D physics simulation for realistic sensor behavior
  • Signal Processing: Accurate analog/digital signal simulation
  • Memory Management: Efficient handling of large-scale IoT simulations

User Interfaces

  • Desktop GUI: Modern PyQt6 interface with dark/light themes
  • Web Interface: Browser-based development environment
  • REST API: Complete programmatic control via FastAPI
  • CLI Tools: Command-line interface for automation and scripting

Supported Raspberry Pi Models

Model GPIO Pins Simulation Accuracy Status
Pi 4B 40-pin 99.9% βœ… Full Support
Pi 3B/3B+ 40-pin 99.9% βœ… Full Support
Pi Zero 2W 40-pin 99.9% βœ… Full Support
Pi Pico 26-pin 95% 🚧 Beta

Communication Protocols

  • I2C: Multi-master support, clock stretching, 10-bit addressing
  • SPI: Full-duplex, configurable clock polarity/phase
  • UART: Hardware flow control, baud rate detection
  • 1-Wire: Temperature sensors, device enumeration
  • PWM: Hardware and software PWM with DMA support

🎯 Use Cases & Applications

πŸŽ“ Education & Learning

  • Computer Science Courses: Teach embedded systems without hardware costs
  • STEM Education: Interactive electronics and programming lessons
  • Certification Prep: Practice for Raspberry Pi Foundation certifications
  • Workshop Training: Scalable training environments for large groups

🏭 Professional Development

  • IoT Prototyping: Rapid development of connected device solutions
  • Embedded Testing: Automated testing pipelines for production code
  • Algorithm Development: Test control algorithms before hardware deployment
  • System Integration: Validate complex multi-device interactions

πŸ”¬ Research & Innovation

  • Academic Research: Reproducible experiments in embedded systems
  • Algorithm Testing: Machine learning model validation on simulated sensors
  • Protocol Development: Test new communication protocols safely
  • Performance Analysis: Benchmark code performance across different scenarios

πŸ“Š Performance Benchmarks

Metric RPi Simulator Physical Hardware
Setup Time < 30 seconds 15-30 minutes
Component Cost $0 $50-500+
Iteration Speed Instant Minutes
Debugging Capability Full visibility Limited
Reproducibility 100% Variable

πŸ› οΈ Development & Contributing

Prerequisites

  • Python 3.11+
  • Poetry (package manager)
  • Git

Setup Development Environment

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/Sherin-SEF-AI/RPi-Simulator.git
cd RPi-Simulator

# Install dependencies
poetry install

# Install pre-commit hooks
poetry run pre-commit install

# Run desktop application
poetry run python -m apps.desktop

# Start headless server
poetry run python -m apps.server --reload

# Run test suite
poetry run pytest --cov=packages/

Project Structure

RPi-Simulator/
β”œβ”€β”€ packages/           # Core simulation packages
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ sim_core/      # Event system and timing
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ devices/       # Virtual device library
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ peripherals/   # I2C, SPI, GPIO implementations
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ physics_engine/ # 3D physics simulation
β”‚   └── pistudio/      # Main application logic
β”œβ”€β”€ apps/              # User interfaces
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ desktop/       # PyQt6 GUI application
β”‚   └── server/        # FastAPI web server
β”œβ”€β”€ examples/          # Sample projects and tutorials
└── tests/            # Comprehensive test suite

Contributing Guidelines

  1. Fork the repository
  2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature)
  3. Make your changes with tests
  4. Run the test suite (poetry run pytest)
  5. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add amazing feature')
  6. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/amazing-feature)
  7. Open a Pull Request

πŸ“ˆ Roadmap

Version 1.0 (Current)

  • βœ… Core GPIO simulation
  • βœ… Basic device library
  • βœ… Desktop GUI
  • βœ… Python code execution

Version 1.1 (Q1 2024)

  • 🚧 Advanced physics engine
  • 🚧 Machine learning integration
  • 🚧 Cloud connectivity simulation
  • 🚧 Mobile app companion

Version 2.0 (Q2 2024)

  • πŸ“‹ Multi-board simulation
  • πŸ“‹ Real-time collaboration
  • πŸ“‹ Advanced debugging tools
  • πŸ“‹ Custom silicon simulation

🀝 Community & Support

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ’» About the Author

Sherin Joseph Roy is the Co-founder and Head of Products at DeepMost AI, where he leads the development of enterprise AI systems that connect data, automation, and intelligence to solve real-world challenges.

Professional Background

Passionate about entrepreneurship, startups, and artificial intelligence, Sherin focuses on creating scalable, human-centered AI solutions that redefine how organizations think, decide, and grow. His expertise lies in bridging research and application, transforming cutting-edge AI research into practical enterprise solutions.

Connect with Sherin

Location & Timezone

πŸ“ Based in: Bangalore, India (Asia/Kolkata timezone)

πŸ“„ License & Attribution

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details.

Citation

If you use RPi Simulator in your research, educational materials, or commercial projects, please cite:

@software{rpi_simulator_2024,
  title={RPi Simulator: Advanced Raspberry Pi Development Environment},
  author={Roy, Sherin Joseph},
  year={2024},
  url={https://github.com/Sherin-SEF-AI/RPi-Simulator},
  organization={DeepMost AI},
  address={Bangalore, India},
  note={Open-source Raspberry Pi simulation platform for embedded systems development}
}

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to the open-source community and contributors who have made this project possible. RPi Simulator builds upon the excellent work of the Raspberry Pi Foundation and the broader embedded systems community.


⭐ Star this repository if you find RPi Simulator useful for your projects!


Developed with ❀️ by Sherin Joseph Roy | Co-founder @ DeepMost AI

Bridging AI Research and Real-World Applications


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The most comprehensive Raspberry Pi simulator for embedded systems development, IoT prototyping, and educational purposes. Build, test, and debug your Raspberry Pi projects without physical hardware using our advanced physics-based simulation engine.

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